slorc detains several members of nl

DATE=10/30/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-221915
TITLE=BURMA / NLD (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: BURMESE AUTHORITIES HAVE DETAINED SEVERAL MEMBERS OF A
LOCAL BRANCH OF THE OPPOSITION NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY.
VOA CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA
BUREAU IN BANGKOK, THE N-L-D MEMBERS ARE BEING QUESTIONED IN
CONNECTION WITH TUESDAY'S ABORTED ATTEMPT BY PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER
AUNG SAN SUU KYI TO HOLD A MEETING WITH SUPPORTERS.
TEXT: A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN IN RANGOON SAYS FOUR MEMBERS OF THE
MAYANGON TOWNSHIP BRANCH OF THE N-L-D HAVE BEEN, AS THE SPOKESMAN
PUT IT, "CALLED IN FOR QUESTIONING." THE SPOKESMAN SAYS THE FOUR
-- WHO WERE NOT IDENTIFIED -- ATTEMPTED TO CONDUCT ILLEGAL
POLITICAL MEETINGS AND VIOLATED REGULATIONS GOVERNING SUCH
GATHERINGS. HE DID NOT SAY IF THE FOUR N-L-D MEMBERS HAVE BEEN
CHARGED.
THE SPOKESMAN SAYS POLITICAL PARTIES IN BURMA -- INCLUDING THE
N-L-D -- HAVE THE RIGHT TO CARRY OUT PARTY ACTIVITIES, BUT THEY
MUST DO SO WITHIN THE LAW.
THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ACCUSES THE N-L-D OF DEFYING THE LAW TO
EMBARRASS THE GOVERNMENT. HE SAYS SUCH ACTIONS WILL, AS THE
SPOKESMAN PUT IT, ONLY CREATE UNNECESSARY SETBACKS TO BUILDING
DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS.
ON TUESDAY, POLICE PREVENTED N-L-D LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI FROM
MEETING WITH SUPPORTERS IN MAYONGON, A TOWNSHIP IN NORTH RANGOON.
AUTHORITIES BLOCKED THE ROAD LEADING TO THE N-L-D OFFICE THERE
AND SCUFFLED WITH N-L-D SUPPORTERS, AS AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S
MOTORCADE APPROACHED. SUPPORTERS WERE ROUNDED UP AND TAKEN AWAY,
AND WERE RELEASED SOME DISTANCE AWAY.
AUTHORITIES SAY THE N-L-D HAD NOT OBTAINED PERMISSION FOR THE
MEETING AND THAT THEY HAD URGED THE PARTY TO HOLD THE GATHERING
INSIDE AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S LAKESIDE COMPOUND, IN RANGOON.
LAST MONTH, THE AUTHORITIES ALLOWED THE PARTY TO HOLD A CONGRESS
AT AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S HOME, LEADING MANY ANALYSTS TO BELIEVE THE
GOVERNMENT WAS SOFTENING ITS ATTITUDE TOWARD THE N-L-D. PREVIOUS
ATTEMPTS TO HOLD SUCH MEETINGS HAVE BEEN BROKEN UP BY
AUTHORITIES, BY MASS TEMPORARY DETENTIONS. AUNG SAN SUU KYI --
WHOSE MOVEMENTS HAVE BEEN SEVERELY CURTAILED BY THE GOVERNMENT --
WAS ALSO ALLOWED TO VISIT ANOTHER N-L-D OFFICE IN A RANGOON
SUBURB LAST WEEK.
BUT TUESDAY'S INCIDENT INDICATES, SAY ANALYSTS, THAT HOPES OF A
SUPPOSED THAW IN RELATIONS BETWEEN THE MILITARY AND THE
PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT WERE PREMATURE. (SIGNED)
NEB/GPT/FC/KL
30-Oct-97 4:10 AM EST (0910 UTC)